I’ll admit it….I’m a Kimpton fan. I’ve also called myself a Kimpton snob. That’s probably not the best phraseology, but suffice it to say, I LOVE Kimpton hotels. Admittedly, I did not like the idea of IHG buying Kimpton…..AT ALL. I was afraid that the little things that made Kimpton special would go away and Kimpton would become something akin to a fancy Holiday Inn. While I suppose the jury is still out, I’m going to offer a few thoughts several months into the emergence of IHG Rewards in our Kimpton Karma business………
The #KimptonLove Remains
Overall, I think the #KimptonLove is still there. Most recently, I’ve bunked at the Kimpton Surfcomber in Miami and the Sir Francis Drake in San Francisco. The Miami stay was leisure and the San Francisco stays were all business. The verdict – things felt exactly the same as before. The Surfcomber is a much smaller hotel than the Sir Francis Drake. Guess what? Just like before, the much smaller hotel felt more personal and the larger hotel was busier. I was welcomed as an Inner Circle member at both. I received a welcome amenity. Bottom line – I was treated exactly as I’ve come to expect from Kimpton.
Kimpton Hotels are Still Special
The things I love about Kimpton are still there. Warmth and caring is universal, but the individual properties still have their own unique feel and style. The people are still the same. They’re “cool” but welcoming. Everyone that I’ve interacted with since the merger has been awesome. In short, Kimpton did not become Holiday Inn.
The Bottom Line
I still love Kimpton hotels!!! Sure, there are some little nits to work out here and there. But the truth is that Kimpton still feels as awesome as ever to me. The people are still great. The properties are still special. Most importantly, I still feel cared for just like I did before.
-MJ
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So glad that you’ve continued to receive the special treatment that Kimpton is known for. I’m happy to report that I’ve had the same experience… awesome welcome amenities, nice upgrades, and smiling faces. There is some frustration with the changing benefits of the program as a whole, but the service at each property has remained excellent.
Congrats on being recognized as IC after the system integration. I’ve been to two properties since (Everly and Palomar SD) and was recognized solely as Spire. I had to request welcome amenities and Raid the Bar both places. It’s not that the system doesn’t show me as IC, but it seems to be buried underneath Spire Ambassador and requires some digging. IHG blames the properties and of course vice-versa (politely).
Interesting, Carl. Haven’t experienced that issue but will be on guard for it.